Judith: Bride of Wyoming (American Mail-Order Bride 44) (3 page)

The pretty woman let out a breath. Obviously she was uncertain to what to do. It was certainly not proper for a single woman to live with a man regardless of the circumstances. He tried to come up with something to say to her, but was at a loss. As much as he’d hoped for a caretaker for Bethany, he wasn’t sure what or how it would come about.

He’d hoped to find an older woman to care for Bethany, so he’d not have to worry about such things. Since his mind was already heading in many improper directions, he was sure living in close quarters with such an attractive woman would not be a good idea. “I certainly understand if you decide against coming to live at my house. I have no alternative. My home is not spacious as I’ve always lived alone, however it does have two separate bedrooms.”

“I see.” She stood up and frowned at Albert. “Is this your son?”

“No, this is Albert, my nephew.”

“Hello, Albert.” She smiled at the boy who beamed in return. “Mr. Montgomery, I will come with you. I have no alternative at the moment and appreciate your offer.” She lifted her carpetbag, but Albert hurried to take it from her. Judith’s chin lifted just a notch when she looked to the other man. “Thank you, Mr. Walker.” She looked to Sean when he lifted the trunk. “It’s heavy.”

Sean motioned with his head for her to come alongside. “It’s not a long walk to my house.”

“If you’re sure,” Judith replied her eyes on the trunk. “I can help.”

“I’ve got it,” he replied then lifted it higher to prove his point.

Mr. Walker chuckled and called out. “Seems you have yourself a caretaker and, with luck, soon a wife.”

Sean cleared his suddenly clogged throat and continued walking, the woman Judith walking primly beside him keeping her eyes straight ahead. When his nephew lingered behind, Sean called out over his shoulder. “Come on, Albert.”

Half an hour later, the young woman walked around Sean’s small kitchen and studied the rest of the main living area. “You could use a housekeeper.” She came to the table when he poured coffee and put leftover cornbread on plates for them. He’d eaten all the chili from the night before. “I need to see about getting some food.”

“I can see about it. If you could give me a list I can go tomorrow. I’m afraid I need a few hours rest before I can be helpful at this point.” Indeed he noticed dark circles under her eyes and he felt bad at not having a more suitable space for her.

“As you may realize, I didn’t expect you. So I am not prepared for anyone to live here. My sister, Eloise, keeps my daughter until suppertime. I get her after going there for supper most days.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I am going there to get her in a bit and have supper. Would you like to accompany me?”

Judith shook her head and nibbled cornbread. “No, thank you. I really just ask to lay down for a bit.”

* * *

“A woman is at your house?” Eloise’s wide eyes were accompanied by a sly smile. “You don’t say.” She rocked back and forth with her youngest over her shoulder. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

He glanced down at his sleeping daughter; the cherubic bundled baby lay in a blanket on the floor atop a second folded blanket. “I don’t know how it happened that she’s here. Mr. Walker sent…” He looked at a wide-eyed Albert and realized the boy would get in trouble if he told his sister the boy had been over at the train station. “Mr. Walker sent word that there was a woman looking to help care for a child. She’s tired from the travel, so I didn’t get an opportunity to talk to her about how it came to be that she’s here.”

“Probably came to get away from someone and was willing to take a chance she’d find work, or a husband.” Eloise frowned. “What if she’s running from someone and they come after her. We don’t want to expose Bethany to any danger.”

His sister pinned him with a hard stare. “You need to speak to her and find out how and why she’s here.”

“She came by train,” he explained in a flat tone. “The why is her business. I’m sure she’ll tell me when she’s ready.”

Eloise, not one to back down, huffed. “There is the matter of a single, young lady living with you. You can’t allow it. Something needs to be done.”

“What do you propose I do about it? I need someone to care for Bethany. It’s an answer to both of our prayers.” He frowned at the thought that he’d not actually prayed in a long time. If anything, God had forgotten him a long time ago and he wasn’t exactly on speaking terms with Him at the moment.

“You should marry her, of course. You need a wife and obviously, if she’s desperate enough to come this far, she needs a husband.”

Sean choked and sputtered. The hard thumps against his breast made him gasp for breath.

Eloise laughed. “There is no other way. You and I both know it.”

“What are you up to now woman?” Jack Jacobs, her husband, walked in and picked up one of the toddlers that rushed to him. Sean’s brother-in-law studied his face. “You look a bit green, Sean.”

“My brother is getting married,” Eloise announced with an innocent smile. “A young woman is at his house now. She’s resting from her journey from out east. I assume we’ll meet her soon.”

“Is that so?” Jack neared and slapped a still silent Sean on the back. “Congratulations.”

Chapter Three

It was dark when Judith woke up. Disoriented and confused, she lay atop the bed still fully dressed and looked up into the dim lit space. In the near distance, she heard an infant’s cry and the stark realization the baby was her charge brought her fully awake.

What was the baby’s name? She couldn’t remember. At the moment, the only clear picture was of the dark-haired, muscular man who’d come for her at the train station. Had it been that day? How long had she slept?

Judith waited, listening for the baby’s crying to either continue or stop. She heard the shuffling of feet followed by a low voice. She slipped from the bed and went to the doorway from where she could look into the larger room, a combination of kitchen, dining area and sitting space. In front of the fireplace, Sean Montgomery paced back and forth, the tiny figure of his daughter tucked in his arms. He held a glass bottle to the babe’s mouth and she heard the soft sounds of the baby’s suckling.

He murmured softly as the child drank, his dark head bent as he watched the baby with interest. It was endearing to see how he awkwardly rocked the baby once she finished eating while yawning and rolling his neck. It must be hard for him to work all day and have to care for the infant who didn’t sleep through the night yet.

She remembered now. He’d said the baby’s mother had died during childbirth. It seemed strange to her that the woman’s parents had not stepped forward to care for the infant. It was rare for a man to shoulder the responsibility of child rearing. Although he did have his sister, it was still his burden.

A few moments later, he laid the sleeping child into a cradle next to the fireplace and he sunk down on the wide chair next to it. With one hand on the child’s bed, within seconds, he was snoring.

Judith crept toward the crib and peered in. The baby was fast asleep, too. She was beautiful, with a head full of dark curls. It was hard not to smile down at the infant. The father was sprawled on the chair, his neck at an odd angle, making her wonder how many times he’d slept like that. Her heart went out to him. Although she wasn’t sure what he did for a living, it had to take a toll to care for his child at night after spending the day working.

Careful not to wake him, she pulled a blanket over the slumbering man, placed a small, rolled blanket she found beside the crib under his head and then carefully lifting the baby, she returned to her bedroom.

Within moments, both she and the infant slumbered.

“Miss?” The sound of the gruff, deep voice pulled Judith from her sleep. She pried her heavy eyelids open to see her new employer standing in the doorway of her bedroom. With mussed hair and his shirt open, it was impossible not to notice even in this disheveled state how attractive the man was.

“Good morning,” she mumbled and then peered down at the still slumbering baby. “I hope it’s all right that I brought the baby here. I wanted you to get some rest.”

His nod was slow as his eyes fell to where his child lay. “If you’re not too tired, can I leave her here with you today?” There was something like anxiousness in his expression when he looked to his daughter again. “Bethany is a good baby. She shouldn’t give you much trouble.”

“Of course,” Judith replied and, ignoring the lack of propriety, beckoned him closer. “Look at her. She’s awake and has been cooing for the last few minutes.”

The large man’s face softened as he neared. Then he shocked Judith by leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to his daughter’s brow. “Hey there, pretty girl.” He kissed her again and the child lifted her chubby arms to him.

He chuckled, the deep rumble sending a strange sensation through Judith. “No, baby girl, I am not going to pick you up.”

His dark eyes met Judith’s. “Thank you.”

When he walked out, she let out a breath. This was the most unconventional situation. What was she to do about it? Surely tongues would wag upon learning of their living arrangement. Somehow, she’d have to come up with a solution; perhaps there was another place she could stay. But that would mean that in the evening he’d have to care for the baby and that would not do. Although the child was well cared for, it was not right for a single man to rear a child alone. Not in her opinion anyway.

Moments later, fully dressed, Sean appeared at the doorway again. “I work at the stables, just a quick walk out the front door to the left. If you need anything, feel free to come there.” He looked to the child. “My daughter’s name is Bethany.”

“Very well. Do you require anything for your midday meal? I will cook.”

His eyes widened. “Hadn’t thought of that.”

“I tell you what,” Judith said with a smile. “Bethany and I will expect you to come and get something to eat this afternoon.”

After a hesitant nod, he turned away.

The sound of the front door closing made Judith let out a breath. First things first. Set up a routine, become familiar with the house and then she’d cook and clean up a bit. Later, when Sean Montgomery came home, they would discuss how to deal with the living situation.

Later that morning, while the baby slept, Judith got to work. The entire house was in pitiful disarray and in dire need of dusting and airing out. She opened windows. Then she took rugs outside so she could sweep and mop the floors.

Since the only things she could find were dry beans and dried ham, she set a pot of beans to boil for supper. She cut up ham and chopped what was left of an onion and added those to the pot. Then she threw together a small batch of cornbread.

By early afternoon, the house was much cleaner and smelled of cooking. There were still curtains to wash and the kitchen and bedrooms in much need of being scrubbed, but Judith felt good in the big difference in the dining area and the front room.

She hummed while feeding the baby and prepared for the father to come for supper. When he appeared at the doorway, her stomach flipped.

Although his clothes were soiled, his hair, face and hands were washed. He looked around the open space with round eyes. “You’ve done so much in such a short time.”

She couldn’t help the surge of pride. “As you said, Bethany is a good baby. She’s been very helpful by keeping herself occupied while I straightened up.”

“You more than just straightened up.” He peered down at the floor. “I’m not much of a housekeeper.”

He sat at the table and ate while she walked around with the baby who’d begun to cry at seeing her father, wanting his attention.

“Good afternoon.” A dark-haired woman opened the door after a quick knock and entered the house. Her eyes went straight to Judith, taking her in before her gaze slid to Sean who’d stiffened at her presence.

Without waiting for an introduction, she walked straight to Judith. “How are you? I’m Eloise Jacobs, Sean’s sister.” Her smile was friendly and Judith immediately relaxed.

“I’m Judith Murphy. Nice to meet you.”

Eloise took the baby from her and hugged the child close. “I had to escape from my brood to come and ensure all was well.” She gave the back of her brother’s head a pointed look. “I’ve been helping care for Bethany. But it’s been hard for my brother. It will be so much better now that you’re here.”

When Sean looked to his sister, there was a sort of communication between them that made Judith apprehensive. “You’ve probably not had a chance to discuss much, but…”

“She just got here yesterday,” Sean interrupted her, but then said nothing else.

After a moment of awkward silence, Judith had to ask. “Is there something wrong? With the baby?” She looked to the child who seemed content to play with Eloise’s necklace, her little hands making to grab it.

“No, nothing like that,” Eloise said and then let out a sigh. “It’s just the living situation. Your reputation will be affected when people realize you live here. So I’ve taken the liberty of speaking to Father O’Reilly…”

“Eloise, this is something I need to discuss with Miss Murphy. No need for you to intervene.” Sean stood from the table and stalked to his sister. He took the baby, who began to cry.

“Oh, look at what you’ve done!” The siblings stared at each other until Judith finally took the child and calmed her.